Rwanda builds export links with Northern Europe

Rwanda is making a sharper case as an export and investment destination and Kigali is where that message is landing.

Kigali puts market access on the table

At the Rwanda-Nordic and Baltic Business Forum 2026 in Kigali, officials and investors focused on trade, green finance, innovation and cross-border business. The second edition drew 250 investors from Northern Europe, up from 150 the year before. Since 2000, Rwanda has attracted over $200 million in investments from the Nordic and Baltic regions.

Jean-Guy Afrika of the Rwanda Development Board said Rwanda aims to serve as “a gateway” to the East African Community, COMESA and, in time, the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Why export partners are paying attention

Rwanda is pitching more than location. It is also offering tools that can help move capital and business plans into action, including a sustainable finance taxonomy, tax incentives and access to the Rwanda Stock Exchange for green financing. A Latvian business delegation at the forum underlined another point: companies in Europe are looking for new markets and Rwanda is presenting itself as a practical route into East Africa.

With stronger ties, new institutions and clearer investment frameworks, Rwanda is building wider trade links that could support future export growth.